Agility - by Leo M Tilman & Charles Jacoby (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

In this groundbreaking book, Leo Tilman and Charles Jacoby offer the first comprehensive assessment of the fundamental nature of organizational agility and then describe the essential leadership practices for achieving it. They show that agility is far superior to mere speed or adaptability. Pinpointing its distinctive features, they define agility as the ability to detect and assess changes in the competitive environment in real time and then take decisive action. They demonstrate that agility enables an organization to outmaneuver competitors by seizing opportunities; better defending against threats; and acting as a well-orchestrated collective of teams that are empowered to take disciplined initiative.

Combining their personal experience of building and leading agile organizations, Tilman in the realm of business and finance and Jacoby in battlefield command and homeland security, they present a powerful approach to fostering agility up and down an organization, and out to its very edges. They show how to detect opportunities and threats by fighting for risk intelligence; how to pierce through complexity and unleash creativity by nurturing a culture of honesty and trust; how to meld top-down vision and planning with decentralized execution; and how to enhance strategy by recognizing organizations as dynamic portfolios of risk.

In a world where leaders and their teams must brave the unknown and step confidently forward - or risk extinction - Agility provides a vital roadmap for seizing the unprecedented possibilities of the new age and dominating change instead of being dominated by it.

Review Quotes

"A significant contribution to leadership thinking at a time of increasing complexity, intense scrutiny, and rapid change. Recognizing agility as an essential driver of success in business, industry, and the military is vital. Understanding how to foster and consistently deliver it is even more critical. This must-read book helps us achieve both."
- Martin Dempsey, 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

"Successfully navigating change is of utmost priority for any leader. This deeply intelligent book examines the fundamental nature of agility and then provides an actionable roadmap to fostering it. It is an important read for anyone in any organization that strives for lasting relevance and an enduring brand."
- Shelly Lazarus, Chairman Emeritus, Ogilvy & Mather

"Groundbreaking and timely! Succeed as a leader by using this book to create agile organizations that will thrive in a volatile and uncertain world."
- Bill George, Past Chairman and CEO, Medtronic; Bestselling Author, True North

"Agility is a distinct advance in the understanding of organization and cooperation in businesses begun by Chester Barnard in The Functions of the Executive (1938) and continued in Friedrich Hayek's discussion of the process by which knowledge is acquired (1945)."
- Edmund Phelps, Nobel Laureate in Economics

""All over the world-across different cultures and industries-agility is what differentiates successful teams and organizations and allows them to flourish long-term. All leaders would do well to absorb this brilliant book and put its ideas into practice." - Patty McCord, Former Chief Talent Officer, Netflix; Bestselling Author, Powerful

"In defending our nation and evolving its intelligence infrastructure, agility is everything. This original book will guide leaders and organizations in braving the unknown, leveraging change, and exploiting risk."
- Keith Alexander, 16th Director of the National Security Agency

"The future belongs to agile organizations. With a rare clarity of thought and a wealth of experience, Tilman and Jacoby have given us an invaluable roadmap to how such organizations can be built and nurtured for the long-term."
- Senator George Mitchell, Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader & Peace Envoy

"In business, government, and warfare, agility is critical to survival, competitiveness, and enduring success. This original and practical book is a must-read for the leaders of organizations and teams who want to really understand what it means and what it takes to be agile."
- John Abizaid, U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University

"All leaders are facing an era of rapid change. That's true across politics, the military, all areas of business and every geography. We are all asking ourselves how we can lead successfully as we deal with fast-moving events, ambiguity, uncertainty and volatility. Tilman and General Jacoby skillfully present clear and reasoned strategies for anyone interested in learning and applying organizational agility to get ahead and prosper in this age of disruption."
- Doug Peterson, President and CEO, S&P Global

About the Author